By:Karenlyn Barone
Matzen graduated from Lynbrook High School in 1942 and soon afterward joined the Army, where he served with his four brothers. After completing his tour of duty in 1945, he returned to Lynbrook to begin what would be a long career as a letter carrier for the Lynbrook Post Office. He retired in 1979 after serving the village for 34 years.
For Matzen, retirement was simply the start of another career, and he established Matzen-s Stationery Store on Hendrickson Avenue.
During a lifetime of service to his community, he also volunteered as a member of the Lynbrook Fire Department's Tally Ho Engine Company No. 3. Matzen was captain of his company and secretary of the original Lynbrook Emergency Relief Squad, and after 50 years of active service, he was made an honorary chief of the Lynbrook F.D. He went on to serve an additional eight years before hanging up his fire helmet.
Matzen also devoted many years to the Lynbrook/East Rockaway Lions Club. He was a past president and the proud recipient of the organization's Melvin Jones Award, given for outstanding participation.
Matzen spent countless happy hours in the Anniversary Store, and lent a hand with Lynbrook-s 75th anniversary celebration. One of his proudest moments was being honored as Lynbrook's Man of the Year by the mayor and the village board.
His family thinks Matzen may best be remembered for his sense of humor. He had a penchant for telling corny jokes to make others smile. In recent years, after suffering a number of strokes, he was forced to use a cane. Undaunted, he effortlessly made it the centerpiece of one of his infamous jokes. "He would wag the cane up and down and then ask people what they thought he was doing," explained daughter-in-law Donna Matzen. "Before they could answer, he would laugh and say, 'I'm raising cane.'"
Matzen was laid to rest with his cane at his side.
A devoted family man, Matzen was proud of his family's many accomplishments. His son, John, is a Lynbrook police officer and ex-chief of the Lynbrook F.D. His grandson, John Jr., just completed four years in the Marine Corps, having served seven months in Iraq, and his two granddaughters, Kaitlin and Allison, are members of the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department.
Matzen is survived by his wife of 54 years, Eileen; his son and daughter-in-law; his three grandchildren; and a brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Geraldine Matzen.
Funeral arrangements were handled by the Perry Funeral Home in Lynbrook, and Mass was offered at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Lynbrook. Interment was at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.
The Lynbrook Fire Department gave Matzen a farewell befitting a man who spent a lifetime serving his community. The roads leading to the funeral home were lined with fire department trucks, and Matzen's firefighting brothers stood at atttention, their badges covered with thin black strips in honor of their friend.
Inside the funeral home, Lynbrook Fire Chief David Pearsall asked of his first deputy, "Has the roll call been made?"
"Yes," came the reply, "everyone is accounted for except Clarence Matzen. He made his last call on April 19, 2004."
